TORONTO, Oct. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Brad Duguid, Minister of Training,
Colleges and Universities, joined Humber President and CEO Chris
Whitaker and other college officials, community leaders and
post-secondary education partners today to celebrate the start of
construction on the Humber College Learning Resource Commons project.

Located at Humber's North Campus in Etobicoke, the new Learning Resource
Commons is a six-storey, 260,000 square-foot academic support and
student services facility that will become the new main entrance to the
campus.

Highlights of the facility include:

a new library

group and independent study spaces

a centralized hub for student services

a student gallery and showcase space

space for the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and college
administration

In addition to the post-secondary education benefits, the project will
create employment in the construction sector. Approximately 150 workers
are expected on site each day at the peak of construction activity, and
the project will generate economic spin-offs that will benefit the
entire community.

The new building will be modern and sustainable, designed to achieve
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver certification.

The fixed-price contract between PCL and the Humber College Institute of
Technology and Advanced Learning is for $84.2 million, and will be paid
by the province and Humber College when the project is complete in
spring 2015 to ensure the project is delivered on-time and on-budget.
Ontario is contributing $74.7 million towards the overall initiative,
including work that has already been completed.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario that delivers large,
complex infrastructure renewal projects on time and on budget. Over the
last six years, the province has applied Infrastructure Ontario's
alternative financing and procurement model to 83 major projects valued
at approximately $38 billion, saving taxpayers an estimated $3 billion.
Infrastructure Ontario also manages one of the largest real estate
portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public
sector clients with financing to renew public infrastructure and
leverages its private-sector expertise to manage major commercial
transactions on behalf of the province.

The Honourable Glen Murray, Minister of Infrastructure
"This is an important milestone for Humber College. It demonstrates our
government's commitment to investing in educational infrastructure
while creating value for Ontarians."

The Honourable Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and
Universities
"By investing in infrastructure for postsecondary education, we are
stimulating the economy, creating jobs and building spaces to train the
highly skilled and educated workforce that is needed for the future."

Dr. Shafiq Qaadri, MPP, Etobicoke North
"I am thrilled to see the Humber College project take this next step and
I look forward to seeing the new Learning Resource Commons come
together."

Chris Whitaker, President and CEO, Humber College Institute of
Technology & Advanced Learning
"Humber works hard to ensure that our students have the optimal
education experience both and in and outside of the classroom. From new
library facilities, to accessing all student services under one roof,
to having a place to study or hang out with friends, the Learning
Resource Commons is the latest initiative to provide students with
services and resources to meet their needs."